The House Education Committee Monday voted 7-6 Monday afternoon to kill House Bill 09-1304, which as originally drafted would have suspended for two years all CSAP writing tests and all 9th and 10th grade tests.

Two Democrats voted with all five committee Republicans to kill the bill.

The bill was amended at the request of sponsor Rep. Judy Solano, D-Brighton, to keep the tests but somehow require that the cost of the tests be paid for with federal funds. The state money that would have been saved would have been directed to full-day kindergarten facilities.

About $6 million would have been involved.

Witnesses who opposed the bill, representing the Colorado Department of Education, the Colorado Association of School Boards, the Colorado Association of School Executives and the Colorado Children’s Campaign, argued that the bill, even amended, could jeopardize the state’s chances to qualify for federal stimulus funds, especially competitive grants from the U.S. Department of Education.

The bill was this year’s effort by Solano to trim the CSAP program. She argues that the state shouldn’t be “over complying” with federal No Child Left Behind requirements, which don’t mandate writing tests or multiple high school tests.

Voting to kill the bill were Reps. Randy Baumgardner, R-Hot Sulphur Springs; Tom Massey, R-Pagosa Springs; Carole Murray, R-Castle Rock; Kevin Priola, R-Henderson; Christine Scanlan, D-Dillon, and Ken Summers, R-Lakewood.

Supporting the bill were Reps. Debbie Benefield, D-Arvada; Cherylin Peniston, D-Westminster; Karen Middleton, D-Aurora; Nancy Todd, D-Aurora, Solano and chair Mike Merrifield, D-Manitou Springs.